States and those countries; for the transactions of the forthcoming congress at Washington will not, I am informed, be restricted to abstruse science, but will embrace subjects of pure and applied mathematics, the physical sciences, the natural sciences, anthropology, and ethnology, engineering, medicine, hygiene, jurisprudence, sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, agricultural and animal industry; and it is thought that the scope of the deliberations of the congress, especially in their bearing upon matters of economic and applied science and their influence upon the constantly expanding trade relations between the several countries, will be sufficiently comprehensive to command the interested attention of the people of the United States. The delegates who will attend the congress will be gentlemen preeminent in their countries for culture and learning, and too much stress can not be laid upon the important bearing which the acquaintanceship of such men with our institutions and people will have upon the relations of those countries with the United States, especially when the time is so opportune for us to cultivate with those countries closer relations and more intimate intercourse. These gentlemen, coming as they will as the representatives of their Governments in response to the official invitation of the Government of the United States, will be guests of the Nation. The dignity of the United States would require that a generous hospitality should be accorded to them, somewhat in keeping with that extended by the Government of Chile, and the Government of the United States should not be niggardly in providing means for their entertainment and for enabling the officers of this Government to give them as thorough a knowledge of this country as their short sojourn will permit. I sincerely hope that proper provisions to these ends will be made by Congress and that the item I now submit will receive the favorable consideration of that body. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, COPY OF A COMMUNICATION OF THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE SUBMITTING AN ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION IN THE SUM OF $25,000 FOR PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE. January 2, 1915.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, copy of a communication of the Secretary of Commerce of the 30th instant, submitting an estimate of appropriation in the sum of $25,000 for promotion of export trade; for the special certification of commercial products intended for export, including the necessary inspection and tests connected therewith; provided that such certification shall be limited to classes of materials being examined by the Bureau of Standards for the Government, and shall be made only upon request of manufacturers concerned and upon the payment of an adequate fee, including personal services in the District of Columbia and in the field, to be immediately available. The Secretary of Commerce, in his communication, explains the reason for the submission of the estimate at this time. Respectfully, BYRON R. NEWTON, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: There is transmitted herewith to be submitted to Congress, in accordance with existing law, an estimate in the sum of $25,000 to cover expenses in the Bureau of Standards of this department for special certification of commercial products intended for export, including the necessary inspection and tests connected therewith. It is intended to use this appropriation to meet a new and urgent demand which has recently arisen from several industries for the certification of American products for export trade. In the trade-promotion work of this department it is found that a governmental certificate of the actual quality of export products is becoming more and more necessary. In many foreign countries the government testing laboratories are furnishing such certifications, and this gives the foreign manufacturer a distinct advantage over the manufacturer in this country, especially in cases where a quality certification by a recognized governmental agency is required by the specifications for the materials to be exported. This appropriation is designed to place the American exporter, so far as possible, on the same equality in this respect with his foreign competitors. You will note that the appropriation provides for the charge of an adequate fee for each certification to be made by the Bureau of Standards of this department to reimburse for the expense incurred. This department is now receiving many requests to undertake the work of testing and certifying to quality of American products, Lut lack of funds prevents a compliance with these requests except to a very limited extent in cases of extreme urgency. The appropriation suggested will prove a great help to manufacturers and producers in this country who are desirous of selling their goods to foreign coun tries. There have come to my notice instances where specifications covering material to be furnished to foreign countries have excluded competition from manufacturers or producers in this country. Through the application of proper scientific investigation, and with the aid of the State Department, in one notable instance a change was made in the specification which will enable competition Ly manufacturers in this country. In this case a certificate from our Government testing laboratory, the Bureau of Standards, is necessary for each shipment of the materials. This is the case where the Government's specifications in Argentina excluded cements manufactured in this country. This estimate was not submitted with the regular estimates for this department as the necessity for an appropriation for this work was not foreseen because the demand did not arise until after the regular estimates had been submitted to your department as required by law. Respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, Secretary. Estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, by the Department of Commerce. Promotion of export trade BUREAU OF STANDARDS. For the special certification of commercial products intended for export, including the necessary inspection and tests connected therewith, provided that such certification shall be limited to classes of materials being examined by the Bureau of Standards for the Government, and shall be made only upon request of manufacturers concerned, and upon the payment of an adequate fee; including personal services in the District of Columbia and in the field, to be immediately available (submitted)...... $25,000 |